BMC volunteers lay 31m of stepping stones and more in Eryri

Access News
22 Sep
2 min read

This September, a team of 12 BMC volunteers laid stepping stones through boggy ground, planted acorns and collected hawthorn berries in Eryri (Snowdonia) as part of the BMC Access & Conservation Trust's Get Stuck In programme.

BMC's Access & Conservation Trust trustee, BMC Hill Walking Rep and founder of the Get Stuck In initiative, Steve Charles, says, "We had a successful few days in Eryri last week with 12 volunteers. Day one was wet, so in the morning we cleared out drains on the lower parts of the Watkin Path up Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon).

"Due to the weather we sought shelter in the National Trust tree nursery in the afternoon and helped by planting out acorns: in all 3,240 acorns were planted which clearly saved the National Trust rangers many, many days of work. Then on the way back to the bunkhouse we picked hawthorn berries, which will be planted out to produce seedlings for planting on the hill next year.

"Day two had better weather so we went to the Ogwen Valley and built sections of a new stepping stone path. This was behind Tryfan Bach (Little Tryfan) which many people will know as the place they did their first rock climb! In total, 31m of new stepping stone path was built with great views up to Tryfan behind."

The volunteers created 31m of stepping stones behind Tryfan Bach to improve the path into the mountains

Well done and thank you to all our BMC volunteers. Returning for a second time was Sumayya Patel who also persuaded some of her friends to come too. Here are her thoughts on Get Stuck In:

Why did you sign up to do your second Get Stuck In?

So after our first venture last year, I found that I really enjoyed the work we did and gained a lot of knowledge about conservation and mountaineering over a very short period. I also met a few incredible people who were so welcoming and friendly, which made it an experience I wanted to have again. When I heard that there was an opportunity to attend again, I jumped at the chance as I really wanted to do some work which was meaningful and helped me appreciate the work that goes into maintaining the paths we walk on every time we go hiking.

How did you persuade your friends to come along?

It wasn't easy! After our last trip, my friend and I told our social circle about the fun we had, but also the lack of physical preparation we did beforehand and how sore we were. We invited them along this time and reminisced over the time we had, including everything we learnt about mountain rescue, water erosion, and reforestation. We must've talked about it non stop since the friend wanted to attend to 'see what all the fuss was about' (spoiler: she loved it!!)

What was the work like - did you all enjoy it?

Absolutely loved the work. We worked on drainage up the Watkin path and planted over 3,000 oak trees at the greenhouse on our first day, and helped move and set stepping stones on a path up Tryfan on our second. I was worried that I wouldn't be strong enough to help, but there were jobs and opportunities for everyone, which felt very inclusive.

What was the most challenging part of it?

Probably having no WiFi, however after going through a digital detox, I realised how much I appreciated the time away from life. I'd say some of the work was physically demanding so I found that I was quite tired by the evening.

Sumayya Patel 'Getting Stuck In' to the path at Cwm Tryfan alongside fellow volunteer Philip Benson

How important is it to you to give back to the landscapes you love to explore?

The more I've engaged with the BMC and learnt about the work that goes into building and maintenance, I'd say it's very important to me. I do particularly enjoy nature, walking, and hiking, and realise that without the work and effort done by teams like this, I wouldn't be able to engage in the activities I love.

Do you think you will come to another one?

Most definitely! I am hopeful that I can attend at least once a year having had fantastic experiences on both events I have attended so far. Hopefully I can drag a few more friends along.

Is there anything we can do to make Get Stuck In appeal to more people?

Advertising may be beneficial, as I didn't know about the BMC until I connected with someone who worked for them and told me about the event last year. For those of us who live in busy cities where we don't have many hiking routes, it may be useful to promote the events and raise awareness of who the BMC are and what they do, as well as the amazing work they have already done on the Get Stuck In events.

Is there anything else that you would like to mention?

Just a massive thank you to everyone involved in organising the events, the experiences have been very educational and exciting. It definitely feels like you develop a sense of community for a few days and get to connect with incredibly interesting people.

BMC volunteers picking hawthorn berries that the National Trust will pot and plant as seedlings next year

Will you Get Stuck In too?

Get Stuck In events are single and multi-day volunteer events in the Peak District, Lake District and North Wales. Hill walking fitness and experience, plus a packed lunch is required, but durable waterproofs and steel-toe-capped boots can be borrowed. On the multi-day events like this, volunteers do two days hard labour with National Trust rangers on the footpaths of Eryri (Snowdonia) or the Lake District, while the third day is reserved for a rewarding group hike, climb or pub/cafe outing. You stay free of charge for three nights in basic, bunkhouse-style accommodation and there is a communal meal one evening. Single day events in the Peak District involve planting sphagnum moss and clearing invasive species.

Get Stuck In events are funded by the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust as part of the Mend Our Mountains campaign. Please give generously here and check out the latest volunteering opportunities here.

BMC volunteers planted over 3,000 acorns, saving the National Trust rangers many hours of work

NEW Eryri Apprentice Ranger

Give generously if you love hiking, climbing and mountaineering in Eryri and appreciate this National Park's unique beauty and incredible wildlife

Why donate?

With 10.5 million visitor nights spent in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in 2023/24, and over 600,000 people climbing Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) every year, the 1,497 miles of footpaths within this 823 square mile park are seeing more footfall than ever before. This is compounded by an increase in extreme weather due to the climate crisis and quickly leads to the following horrors for hill walkers, climbers, mountaineers and outdoor-lovers alike:

  • Footpath erosion
  • Muddy and slippery routeways
  • Deep, ankle-turning gullies
  • Navigational difficulties
  • Trampled vegetation
  • Loss of habitat for wildlife
  • Decreasing biodiversity
  • Soil-wash into waterways
  • Increased flood risk
  • Nutrient imbalances downstream

So, wouldn't it be fantastic if you could do something really meaningful to combat this nightmarish downward spiral of footpath degradation in Eryri? Here's your chance to support a really worthwhile project to actively combat path erosion and educate more people to protect and preserve this stunning, irreplaceable National Park. Donate here.

BMC Hill Walking Rep volunteer Steve Charles (top left) organises the Get Stuck In events

Get Stuck In footpath repair events

Get Stuck In events are 1-3 day opportunities for BMC volunteers to give some love back to the landscapes we love to walk and climb in. There are a range of activities decided on nearer the time of the event according to the National Trust rangers who will be teaching you new skills, explaining more about their footpath repair and conservation activities and working alongside you.

Watch the video here

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